I’ve been majorly MIA lately due to my fast approaching graduation from cosmetology school (THIS Saturday!!!…more on that later). I promise I still love you. I’m just really terrible with long distance relationships. It’s not you, it’s me…

Let’s kiss and make up – I have lots of fun blog posts on standby for post-graduation – including a MAY giveaway! – so I hope you can hold off on the silent treatment long enough to stop by and check out the goods.

In the meantime, I’ll be making an appearance on the fabulous Work Your Closet blog tomorrow (lovvvvvvve Jamie :)), so be sure to swing by (see? I have been blogging…just not on my blog. It’s complicated.)

Just to give you a peek into what I’ve been up to for the past month or so, here’s a shot of my beautiful sister who was my model for an end-of-school photo shoot project. I’ll give details (and probably an entire post) on that later. P.s. My theme was ‘Black Swan.’ :)

No chit-chat this week – I do enough of that on the actual video. So sit back, relax, and watch me ramble through this thing:

(music on the video from the insanely talented guys of Needtobreathe)

1. Orange tree – no link. Just organic awesomeness.

2. Sugar scrub – recipe (makes enough for 1 application or more): 3/4 C white table sugar + 4 tablespoons (or a little more, if you feel like it’s dry) of safflower or coconut oil. You can also add in a few drops of essential oil to boost the scent (lavendar, jojoba, etc). Rub gently onto skin before turning on water in the shower (*avoid face and neck). Rinse off.

3. Dorky glasses – I snagged the ones I’m wearing from Forever 21 awhile ago, but they have some equally adorable ones for sale right now here. Geek chic.

4. Adele - do yourself a favor and purchase her album. It will change your life.

5. Rumba Van Dam watch in Fresh Squeeze - scored for 6 bucks cheaper on hautelook.

Have a good one! :)

Now for the reason you’re here.

I had this brilliant idea (at midnight, don’t you convince yourself that they’re all brilliant ideas?! ‘Dude…an iPhone app that will make you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Boom. Genius.‘). The idea was to announce the winner via video…from my bed. Committed? Sure. Creepy? Probably.

So you have to endure the awkwardness to find out who won. It’s just the way it goes.

Proof that I play fair-sies:

I’m super thrilled about this month’s giveaway. Let me give you the scoop.

I love Etsy. I love that it caters to creativity, I love that I find tons of little treasures on there constantly, I love that it consumes my day when I’m supposed to be being productive (oops) and I love that there are Etsy shop owners like Christen. Christen owns the shop Letterhappy, where she makes/sells art prints, cards, screenprinted tees, and all sorts of other cuteness. I stumbled across her shop one day while I was scanning the site for fun, unique prints for our house. And I fell in love. Bright colors, cute t-shirts, vintage knick-knacks. It’s like my mother ship. So I bought this print. It’s one of my favorite decor items in our home. It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy every time I see it.

So when April rolled around, I knew I wanted to give away something artsy. Naturally, Christen came to mind, and after a quick convo via Etsy, she graciously offered to give an 8×10 of my favorite print for the contest, in the winner’s choice of color (red, green, yellow or blue). She’s awesome. I mean, seriously.

Check it out:

(you can join the Shades in Between facebook page here. :))

While you’re entering the contest, be sure to check out the Letterhappy shop on Etsy (I guarantee you will become obsessed), Christen’s blog and follow her for updates on Twitter! Show her some love. :)

I’m announcing a winner on the 21st, so be sure to get your entry in soon and tell your friends, family and frenemies! Good luck. :)

{edited to note: entering closes at midnight, on Wednesday…or Thursday. Whatever way you look at it. :) Winner chosen and announced at noon.}

Let me get back on track here.

I did hair and makeup for the shoot, so I had several things that I had to bring with me – hair products and tools, bobby pins, brushes, makeup, gum (that’s just courtesy when you’re going to be all up in someone’s face). I had almost everything I needed well before the shoot date. And I had every intention of going to Ulta or Sephora or MAC before the shoot and picking up those last minute items. But…you know how those intentions are. They’re so unreliable.

Here I was, the day of the shoot, scrambling to grab last minute things. So where did I turn (since I live in a town where a major makeup store is a good 45 minutes away)? The drugstore, of course. I grabbed eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and eyeshadow (along with some Sour Patch Kids and a copy of US Weekly, but that’s neither here nor there) and headed to the shoot.

The drugstore picks (which weren’t my first choices originally) worked beautifully and delivered fantastic results. I was extremely happy with how the makeup looked off camera and on, and it really got me thinking about how often I overlook over-the-counter options as adequate alternatives in comparison to high end brands. There are certainly some cases when the greater investment is worth it, but in the same respect, there are times when spending the extra cash just isn’t necessary.

So now let’s play show and tell. :)

Below, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite skin care drugstore picks. I didn’t want to overwhelm you (or myself) with hair and skin care all in one, so we’ll break it up like this. Look at me being all organized.

1. Lipstick (a tie) – Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Coral Crush {$4.99} OR CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Hot {$6.00} : I couldn’t decide between these two brands, so I included them both. The Maybelline lipstick may be one of my absolute favorites of all time (I even mentioned it in a previous post). But I used this exact CoverGirl lipstick for the shoot the other day and it won me over. The red is beautifully vibrant and creamy. Both lipsticks are exceptionally moisturizing and don’t have issues with wearing off too soon in the day. You’ve got a winner with either one.

2. Lip Gloss – Neutrogena Moistureshine Gloss in Healthy Peach {$7.99} : This lip gloss literally feels like you’re giving your lips a drink of water. It’s super moisturizing, and silky smooth. And it’s not sticky. Hallelujah. How many times have you put on gloss, stepped out of your car, had a huge gust of wind come through and promptly sweep your hair right onto your freshly glossed lips? Yeah. So cute. This lip gloss saves you from any possible breezy, hair-eating issues.

3. Mascara - Maybelline Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara in Blackest Black {$6.99} : Another item I used on the shoot, I love this mascara because of it’s wand. It’s scoop-shaped, which helps give that ‘lift’ to your lashes. It doesn’t clump, and it lives up to it’s promises of volume and fullness.

4. Blush (& bronzer) – Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush and Bronzer in Rosy Glow {11.49} : I don’t use a ton of blush or bronzer on a regular basis, so this product works really well for me. It’s a complimentary duo of colors that gives the perfect amount of glow to your skin.

5. Eyeshadow – Maybelline Eyeshadow Quads in Amethyst Smokes {$5.49} : This was a tough one. There are a lot of really great over-the-counter eyeshadows out there. But, in my opinion, none do the trick quite like Maybelline Eyeshadow Quads. The color palettes are thoughtfully created, and the shadows are pretty blends of mattes and shimmers. The aspect I like the most about these shadows is their ease of use. They basically spell out how to use the product by labeling each palette square with the location of the eye that it is applied to (i.e. brow bone, lid, etc). Even the most anti-makeup chicks can’t complain about this one. :)

6. Face Wash - Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser {$9.00} : This is possibly my favorite product on this list. I have been using Cetaphil for years. Earlier on in my life, I had some skin issues. Mild acne, sensitivity, etc. After a dermatologist recommended Cetaphil to me and I got on a new regimen, my skin literally did a 180. I rarely ever get a pimple, and if I do, it’s extremely manageable. Cetaphil is gentle, and the perfect balance of cleansing and moisturizing. I actually use the gentle cleanser paired with the bar soap (I use the bar to remove makeup, the cleanser as a follow-up) and I’m consistently happy with the way my skin looks and feels. I’m a huge fan, if you couldn’t tell.

7. Foundation and Powder - Neutrogena Skinclearing Liquid Makeup {$11.99} and Mineral Sheers Loose Powder Foundation {$11.99} : I won’t lie – I haven’t used these two particular products. Since I have pretty sensitive skin, I stick with my tried and true Clinique foundation and powder. However, I have used Neutrogena in a pinch, and I love their product. I chose these two to feature for foundational makeup, because I know that Neutrogena makes a point to develop products that maintain healthy skin. The liquid foundation treats and prevents breakouts, and the powder has SPF included and reduces the appearance of redness. Awesome choices.

8.Eyeliner - CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eyeliner in Basic Black {$4.00} : In my last video tutorial, I raved about Clinique’s eyeliner (I believe my exact words were ‘Clinique’s pencil is my favorite eyeliner EV-ERRRRR.‘ I’m so dramatic). I do love that eyeliner. But CoverGirl has made me a believer with their product. I have no complaints about this eyeliner. Seriously. It goes on smooth and dark, produces a great ‘smudged’ smokey eye, doesn’t make you look raccoon-ish halfway through the day, and is outrageously cost efficient.

9. Moisturizer – Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion (with SPF 15) {$9.49} : Another product I’ve been using for years, this moisturizer never disappoints me. It’s the perfect hydrating formula – without the grease. Who wants to feel like a greaseball? Gross. It has SPF (super important) and is gentle on sensitive skin. I can’t say enough positive things about this moisturizer.

10. Lipstain – Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Passion {$7.00} : For the ladies out there who like a little color, without the heaviness that sometimes comes with lipstick or gloss, here’s your pick. Stain in one end of the tube, balm in the other – your lips are properly nourished and have a pop of color that doesn’t wear off.

So there you have it! Your makeup bag can be filled with quality products that don’t break the bank. :)

I’d love to hear from you guys – any drugstore picks that you can’t live without?

Anyway, here we are with another edition of ’5 things.’ Yes, I did find time to smile during the insanity of the past 2 weeks.

1. Frozen organic pizza. I like a good, hearty home-cooked meal. Enchiladas. Lasagna and garlic bread. Salmon and asparagus. I’m all about spending time in the kitchen. But there are those days when you spend an hour looking for your keys in the morning, chatting with clients about their break-ups, bosses, and box hair color, get stuck in [non-rush hour] traffic on the way home, and your excitable puppy slams his head into your chin when you bend down to pet him as you walk into the door (*just an example, of course…). Yeah. One of those. No motivation for pans or utensils or cooking something hearty. You need quick. You need easy. You need satisfying. You need frozen pizza. And let me tell you something you may not know – you need Amy’s Organic frozen pizza. Or you need Publix’s Organic frozen pizza. Either will do the trick. The veggies taste fresh, the crust is perfection, and there’s a little less guilt because ‘Organic’ is in the name. My favorites? Amy’s No-Cheese, Roasted Vegetable pizza and Publix’s Greenwise Market Organic Margherita pizza. Delicious any day, extra delicious on those days.

2. April Fool’s jokes. I’m not very good at pranks. I think it’s because I can’t follow through with the sneakiness factor. If I come up with something witty or funny, I want to divulge my idea – instead of letting it unfold like a normal prankster. I would suck if I had Ashton Kutcher’s job. This April Fool’s day totally snuck up on me. I was in school that day, so I didn’t really have time to come up with some awesome plan (that I would have obviously spilled to anyone who’d listen). So I just went through my day joke-less. When I was home later that night I saw my husband – sweet and unsuspecting – brushing his teeth in the bathroom. I knew I had about 2 minutes of uninterrupted time to think of a prank, execute it, and not blurt it out before he got into our bedroom. So I did the first thing that popped into my head – pulled the sheets off of his side of the bed, put the comforter back to look normal, and climbed into my side of the bed. It wasn’t Punk’d brilliancy, but I was pretty happy with my quick-thinking. Ben walks in, pulls the covers up, and (in a really dejected tone) says ‘Ahhhh man…‘  I couldn’t help myself. The prank-ruiner inside of me broke into laughter and in my best 5-year-old voice I chanted, ‘April Foooooool’s!‘ He thought I was lame (and told me so) which is probably true, but I’m pretty sure he was just really jealous that he didn’t think of a last minute joke to play on me. I’m already plotting next year’s. I think I’ve unleashed a monster.

3. Mini-vacations. Ben and I don’t get to spend a ton of quality time together because of our schedules. There are the quick chats in the morning and at night, and the one day a week that both of us are freed up (most of the time), but other than that – lots of ‘life’ craziness gets in the way. We’re not one of those couples who has to spend every moment together, but quality time (which doesn’t include sleeping) is important. So when we have pockets of free time, we jump at the opportunity to hang out together. Last week, my photographer friend Kelly-Ann asked us to come to St. Augustine to do a shoot with her. Fun photo shoot + friends + time away with my husband + St. Augustine awesomeness = perfection. This was a no-brainer. We spent 2 days in lovely St. Augustine with no plans (other than the shoot – p.s. more on that later :)) and it was incredibly needed. We’re always looking for suggestions for mini vacation ideas (i.e. in Florida…California or Italy or Barbados would be nice, but that’s not really ‘mini’ ;)) so if you have any, shoot them my way!

4. Rainy days (…sometimes). Weather in Florida is moody. One day it’s dreary and rainy, the next it’s begging it’s residents to hit the beach and bask in beautiful sunlight. As a native Floridian, I’m used to the fickleness. I love sunshine, but I can deal with a rainy day or 2 to break up the pattern every now and then. Recently, we had the storm of all storms (complete with hail and thunder and power outage). It was a little scary, but also totally captivating. I’m amazed by the ferocity of a major storm, and how fragile we (and everything else ‘grounded’) are in it’s path. That’s my deep thought for this post.

5. Cute doormats. At our old house, Ben and I had a plain jane, boring brown doormat. So when we moved, that was one of the things that I wanted to change up. A doormat says a lot about your house, and who you are as the tenant. It’s a first impression – and who wants the first impression to be dull?! So we went on a doormat hunt. After sifting through lots of duds (too plain, too weird with the bees, too fake grass-ish), we found a couple of winners at Target. 2 winners, to be exact. I asked Ben to make the final decision since I’m the worst decision-maker on the planet. And he chose this one. I told him that I’m glad I married him, because I would have picked that one too…probably. He was just happy that we were done doormat shopping.

Enjoy your week, my friends. :)

After doing a little poll on my facebook page (p.s. why aren’t we friends yet?!), I discovered that many of you are interested in learning a pretty classic, sexy eye makeup technique – the smokey eye.

There are literally tons of different ways to do a smokey eye. It can be subtle, dramatic, colorful (a blue smokey eye? A purple one?), etc. The options are endless. That’s one reason this trend has stuck around for so long – because it’s versatile. It never gets old.

In the video, I demonstrate the standard, charcoal-based smokey eye. This look is great to amp up your day-to-day outfit, or dramatize a LBD for a hot date. Play around with it – make it your own.

[A few disclaimers about the video: 1) The lighting sucks, even with my curtains open. Thanks stormy weather. 2) I need a tan. Desperately. 3) I'm not in a jail cell. We just haven't really decorated our office...at all. It's sad. 4) I don't know what that red blotch is on my chest. You guys make me nervous...? 5) I will forever be long-winded. I've accepted it. I hope you can too.]

Enjoy! (p.s. I’ve listed the steps, links and all that jazz below)

Steps to create a smokey eye:

1. Base shadow. Cover your eyelid with a neutral, base shadow. I use tans, light golds, iridescent whites, or light grays. You can use your fingertip to spread the color across your entire lid. It doesn’t have to be perfect – just get it on there. (*Tip: also add a little into the inner corner of your eye to highlight)

2. Defining shadow. Using a defining eye brush, color in the crease of your eye with a darker shadow (plum, charcoal, gray, etc). ‘Swoosh’ your brush toward your browbone to blend color. :) If you’re using 2 colors, go back in with the darker shade (usually black, or dark gray) and concentrate on the outer corner/crease of your eye. Lightly blend with your finger to erase lines.

3. Line and smudge. Using a liner brush, ‘line’ your lower and upper lash lines with dark powder (usually black or dark gray). Start at the outer edge and sweep across line, right below your lashes (and above on the upper lid). Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Take your eyeliner (if you’re using any) and sweep across the inner lower lid, and right against the lash line of the upper lid. (*Tip: use your pupil as a guide, and only bring liner to that point.) Next, use your smudge sponge to smudge the powder and liner. The messier, the better. :)

4. Mascara. Use your mascara to finish off the look (*Tip: Hold your mascara wand still, and blink over it a few times to coat both sides of your lashes. Then swipe a few more times to define.)

5. Repeat on other eye. :)

Done!

Super simple.

I hope this tutorial was useful, and that you guys enjoyed my ridiculousness. :) I’d love to hear your suggestions for future video blogs, questions (style-related or non), or just a general ‘hey girl hey!’ It’s impossible not to be able to get in touch with me. Email. Facebook. Twitter. Formspring. My house. Wait…

Thanks for tuning in!

Products used in the tutorial:

brushes: ELF liner, smudge, defining | base shadow: Urban Decay Loose Pigment in Yeyo | defining shadows: Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo (Night Plum) and LORAC Eye Shadow in Dreamy | eyeliner: Urban Decay Smoke Out Eye Pencil in Mary Jane | mascara: Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

Anyway, as I was perusing through my unorganized stack of unread emails, this one caught my eye: ‘Sample Spree. One Week Only.’ Samples are awesome. I love the word ‘spree.’ You roped me in.

Which brought me to this:

The breakdown:

-Pick 5 samples from a group of offerings from Sephora

-Add them to your basket

-Check out! (*Shipping is standard rate – $5.95 or free with a $50 purchase)

Easy peasy. I kinda love Sephora, and I kinda love samples. So this is my perfect mash-up.

I’ll probably do a much bigger post soon with a bunch of my favorite online places to shop. But until then, enjoy this quickie. :)

This week has been good. Really good. Filled with people I love and fun times and shopping. How can you have a bad week when shopping is involved?

1. A new makeup bag. I don’t know about you guys, but I go through makeup bags like it’s my job. Each time I have a new one I tell myself ‘Keep it clean and organized.‘ And my self laughs. Because my self knows…myself….and that’s just an unrealistic expectation. So, per usual, my current Clinique bonus bag (which serves as my makeup bag) is filled with eyeshadow film and half empty tubes of mascara and bobby pins (which have no place in my makeup bag, but seem to take over every aspect of my life). It was time to clean the slate. Quite literally. I found this cute black and gold cosmetic tote in one of those impulse-buy bins at Forever 21. You know – the ones right by the register, impossible to ignore while you’re waiting to check out? Yeah. I caved.

2. The Strawberry Festival and Lady Antebellum concert. For Christmas, my grandparents were awesome enough to give Ben and I (and my sister and brother-in-law) tickets to the Lady Antebellum concert at the Strawberry Festival. Now I need to be real for a second – before the concert, I didn’t listen to Lady Antebellum all that much. I mean, I knew that ‘Need You Now‘ song, and I knew that they won 5 grammys. And I knew that Ben kinda looks like the lead singer (Charles Kelley). But I was still stoked. So we went to the Festival on Sunday (the last day…which meant mobs and mobs of people and ungodly lines for fresh-squeezed lemonade and cheese-on-a-stick. Don’t worry – I only bought the lemonade). The concert was PACKED. And Lady Antebellum proved why they won those grammys. They were unbelievable. I’m a fan. (p.s. please excuse the poor picture quality. It was dark. And we weren’t on the first row. But you get the idea.)

3. Homemade banana granola pancakes and bacon for brunch. My husband is pretty great. I know I’m biased, but he’s funny, handsome, talented, AND he cleans and cooks. I know – he’s a rare breed. But who am I to argue with fate? ;)

4. A cute, colorful to do list. I have a habit of making lists…because I like to make lists. The habit doesn’t really extend to always following through on the list. But I recently rediscovered this fun ‘shop, call, do’ tablet by WhoMi, and I’m confident that I’ll be more driven to complete my lists because of it’s cuteness. Maybe.

5. Brooks running shoes. Let’s get a couple of things straight: Ben is a runner. Like, he enjoys it. I’m not a runner. I don’t usually make a habit of running unless someone creepy is chasing me. With that being said, I just started the ‘Couch to 5k‘ plan. So I guess as of today, I am running. I’m still not going to call myself a ‘runner’ until I start craving a good, long run. And right now, I’m giving my running plan the stink eye. I will say that my Brooks shoes do make this whole running thing a bit more bearable. They’re super lightweight, comfy and supportive. Now if only they could help me get in shape by wearing them, without actually exercising…

Hope your week is :) filled!

While I was getting my shop on, I noticed some trends as I made my way thorough the different stores; floral patterns, flowy material, and lightweight slouchy tops. I’m in love. The femininity of floral print is gorgeous on dresses and skirts, the flowiness of sheer fabric or casual sundresses screams comfort, and I always adore a cute, off-the-shoulder slouchy top. This is my kind of Spring.

Here are a few styles to get you in the flowery, breezy, comfy mindset for this seasons’ fashion attitude:

From top left:

*American Eagle Paisley Overlay Dress – $34.50 : {flowy} Paisley rules. Period.

*Victoria’s Secret Off-the-Shoulder Dream Tee – on sale! $24.50 : {slouchy} Loose and drapey, plus it comes in six awesome colors.

*Victoria’s Secret Cinched-Waist Dress - $59.50 : {slouchy} This dress is the epitome of comfort and sexiness combined. P.s. I think I need that vest, too.

*Forever 21 Speckled Purl Knit Top – $17.80 : {slouchy} Lightweight and long, this summer-ish sweater is perfect for layering.

*Victoria’s Secret Strapless Ruffled Playdress – on sale! $49.00 : {flowy & floral} The perfect sundress to amp up for a dinner out, or tone down for a day at the beach.

*Forever 21 Midnight Floral Woven Dress – $19.80 : {flowy & floral} Bold color and bold flowered print. Hot.

*Target Mossimo Juniors Racerback Smocked Waist Challis Dress – $21.99 : {flowy & floral} A subtle floral pattern mixed with a feminine neckline = simple sweetness.

*Forever 21 Running Colors Shorts – $14.80 : {flowy} These are shorts! Sneaky, skirt-lookalike shorts. So adorable.

*Victoria’s Secret Smocked-Waist Skirt – on sale! $25.00 : {flowy & floral} Flirty and fun – show a little leg.

Add some pep to your closet.

***

Any trends you’re excited about for Spring?